The show had a number one contender's match between the Crippler and Cena, with the winner earning a shot at WWE Champion Brock Lesnar in the main event. This was still early in Cena's career, so the heel tapped out to Benoit in the Crippler Crossface. To close the show, Lesnar retained his title in a classic SmackDown match.

From a wide-eyed rookie walking into an open challenge to a global superstar returning for a legacy-defining finale, Cena’s trajectory can be told by one match per year — each representing a chapter of growth,

John Cena, the record-breaking 17-time WWE world heavyweight champion, will be having his final match against Gunther at Saturday Night's Main Event.

At Saturday Night's Main Event on Dec. 13, John Cena will be closing the book on one of the most celebrated and decorated careers in WWE history.

On July 6, 2024, just over 22 years after he first appeared on the WWE television show Smackdown!, John Cena entered the ring at Money in the Bank to announce his upcoming retirement. It shouldn’t have come as too much of a surprise,

On the June 27, 2002 edition of WWE SmackDown, Cena made his WWE debut by answering Angle’s open challenge. When Angle asked him what quality he possessed that made him think he could wrestle Angle, Cena responded, “Ruthless Aggression,” before slapping Angle in the face to start the match.

After winning the Last Time Is Now tournament, Gunther faced John Cena in his final match. The Austrian star put Cena in a long sleeper hold and forced him to tap out. It marked Cena’s first submission loss in 20 years and brought his legendary WWE career to an end. However, UFC legend Chael Sonnen poked fun at him.

WWE star Bayley paid tribute to John Cena at Saturday Night's Main Event, which marked the end of his in-ring career.

John Cena received support from Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Jelly Roll before his WWE rematch match — but their congratulations didn’t help him win. WWE aired video tributes from sports and entertainment superstars on WWE SmackDown on Friday,